Article:Best of Charleston 2003The Charleston City Paper, 1/03"Readers Pick for Best Piccolo Spoleto Event"Review:Shakespeare in a ShoeboxThe Washington Post, 1/11/03"Once you've seen its Romeo & Juliet, you'll want to come to back for figurine versions of Hamlet or Othello or whatever else."  Peter MarksReview:Action Figure GeniusThe Charleston City Paper, 10/02"Quick, clever, and chock full of surprises, more than one audience member claimed that it even outperformed the hit interpretation of the Scottish play."  Colleen ReillyReview:Freeze FrameCreative Loafing Charlotte, 10/2/02"I heartily recommend being among the lucky few when Weinstein & Co. return to Charlotte or Piccolo Spoleto."  Perry Tannenbaumjump to the good bits

Review:MacbethThree Weeks, 8/17/02"If a definition of the Fringe is originality and artistic expression, then this 35 minute abbreviated version of Macbeth, with tiny plastic ninjas as a cast, must surely rank as an ultimate example."  Paul Cochrane

BEST OF CHARLESTON 2003Culture,
Arts, and Entertainment
These categories are the least voted-on by our readers. Apparently, you're more interested in eating and drinking out than culture, arts, and entertainment. But when you do vote, you know what you're talking about. Simon Norfolk's moving photographs of Afghanistan won for Best Visual Art Gallery Show. If you missed the exhibit Afghanistan: Palimpsest at the Halsey last year, you can check out Norfolk's book, which is currently available at your neighborhood bookstore.

Other worthy wins include Timmy Finch for Best Comic; he always keeps us in stitches whenever we have the good fortune to be in his company. Charleston Stage Company's production of Bat Boy eked out a win over some worthy contenders (Hedwig, anyone) for the Best Non-Spoleto Play or Performance of 2002. CSC also won for Best Local Theatre Company, and the Dock Street, despite having the most uncomfortable seating in America, won for Best Theatre.

Joseph Flummerfelt's Westminster Choir of Spoleto was recognized for its angelic quality and musical delight. And the Tiny Ninjas were singled out for their amazing performances at Piccolo Spoleto.

Interestingly, Pat Conroy (who doesn't live here!) won again for Best Local Author. Don't we have legitimate local writers who deserve some recognition Ñ like Sue Monk Kidd, Josephine Humphreys, Edward Ball, Harlan Green, etc.? Sure, Conroy is likable and a big seller, but so is Anne Rivers Siddons, and she lives here!

Artists John Carroll Doyle and West Fraser both
got some props for their good works.

In the musical realm, Wormbelly found their album recognized as Best Local Release of 2002 and lead singer Chris Patterson as Best Musician/Vocalist. And the powerhouse that is Cary Ann Hearst was awarded Best Female Musician/Vocalist. If you haven't seen this girl sing her heart, find out when the Borrowed Angels are playing again and go see them!

READERS'
PICKSBest
Local Theatre CompanyCharleston Stage Company

Best TheatreDock Street Theatre
135 Church St.

Best Non-Spoleto Play or Performance of
2002Bat Boy, Charleston Stage Company